The council members then approved a motion to hire an ADA consultant and open the project up to an informal bid process. The meeting went on to the City Manager’s Report with Rob Duke. Duke discussed a new, larger wastewater treatment facility in the works for the city. The new plant will be located to the north of the old one, along the western city limits. In his presentation, Duke cited reasons for the necessity of a new facility, namely the inadequate capacity of the existing plant, in terms of inflow and influent pollutant levels.

He showed that the new plant could be constructed to provide wastewater service to Martell, Amador City, and the Gold Rush Ranch Subdivision. At their next meeting on December 3, the council will be asked to approve the design for the new facility. City Treasurer Jeff Gardner also gave the council his Financial Aid and Treasurer’s report. Gardner expressed concern that the city’s revenue from sales tax is down 15% from last year, a problem that he said is being experienced on a statewide level. He warned that the city would have to make a major budget adjustment early next year, to compensate for falling sales tax revenues. He also stated that this unexpected deficiency may affect proposed annexations on Sutter Creek’s southern city limits.v